BARAKO BULL BESTS KIA FOR BEST START IN 8 YEARS
BARAKO Bull survived another monster game from Kia’s PJ Ramos to eke out a 95-86 win Sunday and grab a share of the lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Sol Alabi scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and got plenty of help in quashing the Carnival threat and leading the Energy to their third win in as many games.
It was the best start for the franchise since taking over Air21 during the 2012-13 season and Barako Bull head coach Koy Banal said getting into the tie with idle Meralco and defending champion Purefoods Star was the objective.
“The goal was to make it three in a row. This franchise hasn’t had that for a long time,” stated Banal.
Ramos finished with a game-high 34 points, including 17 in the fourth that helped bring Kia to within 74-77. But after making the count 81-87 the 7-foot-3 behemoth was held scoreless in the last two minutes of play.
“This game is all about playing good defense and making good decisions,” said Banal. “Kaya nga I’m thankful to the players for making good decisions, especially down the stretch.”
Indeed, the Energy pulled off six of their conference-high 13 steals and also harassed Kia into committing seven of its 22 turnovers in the payoff canto.
Meanwhile, Paolo Hubalde and JC Intal helped on the offensive end with the latter completing a three-point play that gave the Energy a 77-71 separation and the southpaw guard scattering seven of his nine points in the fourth period.
Intal wound up with 18 points and Chico Lanete 10 as the Energy foiled Kia’s bid to follow up on its 88-78 upset of San Miguel Beer last Wednesday and dropped it to a third loss in four games.
Still, it took some doing as the Carnival seemingly drew additional inspiration from playing-coach Manny Pacquiao, who showed up for the first time in the conference with wife Jinkee but did not play.
Virgil Buensuceso added 14 points and LA Revilla 10 for Kia, which grittily fought back despite being down by as much as 22-37 in the second period.
“They gave us a scare. Kia is doing a good job, hiring some new players to give them a different look down the stretch,” admitted Banal.
“Even before the conference we played them and I knew this team is a different Kia. Coach Manny and (assistant) coach Chito (Victolero), they’re inspiring their players to go the extra mile. Their players are really giving their best.”
Barako Bull found that to be true as Kia crawled back to within nine at the half and even though the teams went into the fourth with the Energy up by 66-56 they knew the fight was far from over.
Barako Bull is in its best start in a conference since going 4-0 to begin the 2007 Fiesta Conference when the team was still known as Air21, was still under head coach Bo Perasol and had Shawn Daniels as import. (NC)
The scores:
Barako Bull 95 — Alabi 26, Intal 18, Lanete 10, Hubalde 9, Garcia 8, Lastimosa 6, Wilson 6, Marcelo 4, Pascual 4, Chua 2, salvador 2, Salva 0, Paredes 0, Sorongon 0.
Kia 86 — Ramos 34, Buensuceso 14, Revilla 10, Cawaling 8, Avenido 7, Burtscher 6, Pascual 4, Dehesa 3, Poligrates 0, Webb 0, Alvarez 0, Yee 0, Ighalo 0.
Quarterscores: 22-13; 37-28; 66-56; 95-86
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